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 Posted: Tue Jan 11, 2005 12:14 pm
Setting
The world has...changed. Goblins ride the subway. Dragons rule the boardrooms. Monsters haunt the alleys of the urban jungle. It's the dawn of a new era, the modern world is in the midst of a transformation and most people don't even know it. A quantum shift has occurred in the fabric of reality; magic has suddenly become very real, and creatures that before were only found in fairy tales and nightmares now walk the streets. It's the world outside your window, with a serious twist.
Within this world, modern knights armed with automatic weapons fight dragons, techno-mages use computer search programs to recover spells lost to the ages, and industrious adventurers discover new realms beneath the streets of the cities they have lived in all their lives. Let's face it, you always wanted to get medieval in the modern worl. How is this possible? The walls of reality have become thinner. Fantastic creatures, powers, and items are passing into the world across a boundary known only as "Shadow." Some of these new arrivals are good (or, at most, frightened and confused by this modern world) while others are irretrievably evil. Whichever side they fall on, they are all here to stay. You see, traveling through Shadow appears to be one way, no one has yet managed to pierce the veil to see where these fantastic creatures really come from.
As in all times of need, heroes have begun arising to fight against evil, evil that can mix ancient eldritch power with 21st-century technology. The heroes, too, combine their use of modern weapons with the growing power of magic.
Not all the heroes are human, and not every source of evil originates beyond the veil of Shadow. International conglomerates now offer consulting contracts to demons and seek the counsel of oracles before signing major deals, for example. Likewise, the creatures of Shadow recognize both the good and bad of their new home, and many are willing to take up arms against the bad.
The twist within a twist involves the nature of the human mind and the interaction of Shadow. Most ordinary humans can't fathom the things of Shadow, and so their minds translate the fantastic and the horrifying into something more mundane.
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Posted: Tue Jan 11, 2005 12:15 pm
The Shadow
Shadow
There is a wall between realities. Some call this wall Shadow. Most of the time, Shadow keeps each reality from intruding on the others. But on occasion the wall weakens, the barrier between worlds frays, and the things from one universe slide into another.
Here the world outside your window is on the receiving end of a passageway through Shadow. The reason for this aperture is unknown, although several theories are presented in the sidebars that follow. The results, however, are clear, an influx of fantastic creatures to this world and, with them, a sudden radical increase in ambient magical capability. In other words, magic and monsters are now quite real.
Shadow Journeys
Passageways through Shadow are fleeting and can appear anywhere without any warning, a rising tide that cannot be predicted. The borders of Shadow seem to permeate our own plane. There are reports of portals taking the forms of great pools of tar, abnormally dense fog, or even waves of intense darkness. When these effercts recede they leave items or creatures marooned in our world. Shadow often manifests in remote, desolate locations, and these creatures enter our world confused and alone.
The particulares of a manifestation do not seem to be at all connected with the items or creatures that come through. The same type of Shadow portal might admit a wave of vermin in one manifestation, a group of monstrous humanoids in another, and a single great beast in a third. Then there are times when no creatures are left at all, but items are washed up on these mundane shores. This could be anything from a single glass vial filled with a colorful liquied to a sword that glows pale blue in the moonlight. There are even occasional reports of whole buildings(a keep, a tower, and entire castle) appearing out of thin air.
Shadow Knowledge
Passage through Shadow alters Creatures of Shadow at a fundamental level as they are brought "in tune" with the mundane world. They gain a few abilities in the process, such as the ability to speak local languages. But the most disconcerting aspect is that they passage through Shadow has blurred their memories.
Shadowkind refer to this phenomenon as "The Gift of Lethe," and it results in the dimming and outright elimination of memories. Close details are not forgotten, name, relations, closely held beliefs, as well as personal experiences all remain. However, a great deal of education and raw informaiton is expunged, legends, tales, geography, politics, and other bits of nonessential secondhand knowledge disappear forever.
As a result, an elf likely remembers her name, her family, her profession, the nature of elven life(traditions and customs she believed in, ancient enmities with orcs, and so on), and the existence of magic. She likely won't remember who her clan's leaders were (unless she was related to or worked closely with them), the geography of her homeland, the names of other kingdoms, or any other matters concerning the details of her former life and world.
Many of the Shadowkind do not remember how they fell into Shadow in the first place. Some speak of passing through doorways, other of fog rising in the middle of the night. But most can do no more than acknowledge that they suddenly appeared here in this world with no memory of where they were or what they were doing mere moments earlier.
The loss of so much knowledge has differnet effercts on differnt individuals. Some take the loss well and adapt quickly to their new environment. Others seek to rebuild their homeland, gathering together individuals of similar species, temperament, and motivation. Still others spend their lives trying to find a way back home, away from the madness of our modern world.
So far, the trip through Shadow is only one-way. Those that arrive here have no ability to return. To date, all attempts from this side to breach the wall of Shadow via technology and magic have failed.
From the shattered memories of various Shadowkind, though, we have been able to assemble a picture of the world on the other side of Shadow. It is mostly medieval in technology, with a high level of supernatural power that we call "magic." A diversity of various sentient beings thrives there, of which humanity is only one. These sentient species are closely tied to creatures of mundane myth and lore.
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Posted: Tue Jan 11, 2005 12:16 pm
The Mundane
Mundane
Our world has its fair share of all-too-human monsters. But if you look at the world outside your window it is not awash with beasts from legend and magical weapons. So a pivotal question arises: If fantastic creatures are coming through from the other side of Shadow, they must live in our cities and walk down our streets, so why don't we see them?
The answer is as simple as it is insidious: We do see them, we just don't notice them. And that has more to do with the nature of the human mind than the nature of the universe.
We are assured as children that monsters don't exist. So even when someone sees a monster, he still doesn't remember seeing a monster. In his mind's eye he sees a "big dog" or a "large man" or a "blur at the edge of vision," anything except a creature that he "knows" doesn't exist. A magic fireball is remembered a gas leak. A werewolf becomes a howling drunkard. The easy answer completely papers over what really happened, and the world continues on, blissfully ordinary.
Recurring Shadows
This is not the first time that the walls of Shadow have thinned between our world and the next. In fact, it appears to be a phenomenon that occurs every few centuries.
Events and people from these past "Ages of Shadow" have worked their way into our legends of dragons and knights, of monsters and mythology, of ghosts and demonds. Some eruptions were regional while others were global. Time and again they have altered our history and the way the mundane world thinks.
A large incursion occured in prehistoric Greece, and left behind tales of medusas, chimeras, and centaurs. A rise in magic swirled around Wales and western England in post-Roman times, and brought us the legends of Arthur and Excalibur. The gargoyles of medieval European cathedrals were originally based on living models.
Yet, like all tides, Shadow eventually ebbed. The people of old allowed knowledge to be transformed into myth, the mundane world leaching the vitality from certain practices until they became nothing more than superstitious ritual. The ancient Egyptians, who raised pyramids to honor rulers with godlike power, continued to wrap their dea in bitumen-soaked cloth long after Shadow removed the power that gave the practice any real function.
Legacy of Shadow
Just because Shadow waned and magic stopped working doesn't mean that all evidence and recollection of these events were wiped from the world. Like bits of flotsam scattered on a beach at low tide, some Creatures of Shadow have been in the mundane world during these long, dark years. All their magic drained away, creatures like gargoyles and mummies fell in to deep hibernation waiting for the day that the magic would return.
Other particularly long-lived members of Shadowkind (dragons, celestials, and infernal creatures, just to name a few) have even been conscious during the passing centuries, indeed, several have been quite active. They have kept track of the old sites of power, and tracked offspring through the generations. No one knows better than they do that there are many otherwise mundane folks in the world whose blood pulses with an ancient power. Now that magic they soon discover they have a powerful legacy.
Creatures are not the only Shadow remnants that have survived the long magical draught. Ancient arcane and divine weapons, devices, and artifacts remain, some in museum cases, others as family heirlooms, but all regaining their eldritch power now that magic is returning to the world.
The duration of a typical Age of Shadow is unknown, it may be as short as a few years or as long as a century. This process is aas natural as the tide, waves of Shadow deposition strange cratures on the beach of our world, perhaps even pulling parts of our reality back in the undertow.
This is the world you live in of the Shadowkind, magical creatures and amazing ways. This is your world now and you may choose to be a variety of things, ranging from an evil company executive, to a noble knight trying to help out any he can find...this is your world, the one outside your window. Welcome...to your Urban Arcana.
((So I don't get sued or any thing All Rights Reserved by Wizards of the Coast. All the information provided in the last two posts except the last two paragraphs in this one, that would include the one being typed here, are part of the book Urban Arcana, part of the D20 Modern series. All information on races and classes are found in the book and are not my own. I give credit to the makers of the book for the information I am using and glad that I have it...I think that covers it all anyways onto races and classes and the like))
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Posted: Tue Jan 11, 2005 12:17 pm
Races
Races
The following races will be allowed in this rp:
Dwarf-You should know this
Elf-This one too
Gnome-No excuse
Goblin-Still none
Half-Elf-Nope not even now
Half-Orc-Don't give me that
Halfling-Still?
Orc-If there are questions about the above send me a pm and I will explain or describe them to you.
Shadowkind Human-To be blunt, they are more primitive humans that hail from the Shadow.
Snakeblooded Human-Figure it out
((For any of these if approximates in height, age and all that nice stuff is needed ask and I'll give you the things <.<))
The following will be allowed but only with expressed permission from myself, these are more powerful Shadowkind, hence the reason for permission:
Aasimar-Think of a being with a touch of divinity in it.
Bugbear-Big, powerful, and odd looking.
Dragonblooded Human-Figure it out
Drow-Evil Elves in a sense...any questions?
Gnoll-Savage animalistic humanoids with hyenalike heads and greenish-gray skin covered with pelts of thick brown, russet, or brown-gray fur. Usually stand about 7'6" tall. and weigh somewhere around 300 lbs, reaching adulthood at 12 and living to about 45.
Half-Dragon-This will be very rare but it is obvious what it is.
Half-Orge-Obvious isn't it?
Ogre-Big bad tall things...right
Tiefling-Think of the Aasimars, but with a touch of something demonic or the like ^_^
Vampire((Or Vampyre...what have you))-If you don't know don't frickin ask >.<
Lycanthrope((Or Werewolves for the uninclined))-Yeah...ask if you want it, not for what it is
Any of those can be chosen or if none of those suit your fancy, pm me for some templates, another creature, or ideas to make your charrie a bit different.
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Posted: Tue Jan 11, 2005 12:18 pm
Classes
The following classes can be used and must be approved only if I say they must be:
Apothecary-Apothecaries are people who study the science of mixing chemicals, elements, and naturally occuring materials together for predictable results. They often go on to be research scientists, inventords, pharmacists, or alchemists.
Arcane Arranger-A social engineer who can find the right service for the right price.
Archaic Weaponsmaster-A warrior trained in weapons not commonly found on the street, bows, swords, axes, and other accoutrements of medieval combat.
Archmage-A veteran arcane spellcaster with increased power using her existing spells.
Artificer-A magical craftsperson capable of making powerful magic items.
Ecclesiarch-A seasoned divine spellcaster with increased spellcasting abilities as well as ability to turn additional creature types.
Glamourist-An amiable, engaging companion who uses charm and deception to get things most people have to buy or earn.
Hedge Wizard-A hedge wizard is someone who has spent a great deal of time studying the arcane arts without the benefit of having any formal training or mentoring.
Holy/Unholy Knight-The defenders of their faith, the crusaders for their beliefs,the first and last line of defense for their ideologies.
Mystic-A divine spellcaster with the ability to cast non-curative divine spells at will.
Noviate-Noviates draw quiet strength from their belief in a greater power. They do not necessarily have ties to a specific religion or denomination, they faith is enough. Some novitiates are lay clergy, counselors, motivational speakers, social workers, or any other position involved with helping people who have lost hope and faith.
Psychic-Psychics can be people with innate, low-level psionic abilities or simply con-artists looking to make a buck off those gullible enough to believe their ruses. Get your my approval before you decide to choose this occupation.
Shadow Hunter-A tracker who uses the ways of Shadow to find people and things that would rather stay hidden.
Shadowjack-A computer wizard, a keyboard conjurer capable of sneaking through the mainframes like a ghost and literally performing magic online.
Shadow Scholar-Shadow scholars fall into two categories, learned Shadowkind and mundane folk who have spenttime studying Shadow culture, magic and other supernatural occurances.
Speed Demon-A master of automobiles and other vehicles, capable of pushing them to their utmost and beyond.
Squire-Squires serve as assistants to warriors in hopes of learning the skills they will need to be warriors themselves one day.
Street Warrior-A fighter versed in the unwritten laws of the urban jungle.
Swashbuckler-A light-footed, quick master of the sword.
Techno Mage-Blending magic and technology, a wizard that fully embraces and uses what the 21st century has to offer.
Thrasher-A supremely tough individual with the ability to call upon inner will to increase physical capabilities.
Wildlord-An individual in tune with the world around them, capable of dealing with both the wilderness and its inhabitants.
A player is allowed up to two classes for each character. If you have an idea for a different class because the ones presented may not fit your character put it in your profile and explain what one is. I'll take a look at it and consider it.
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Posted: Tue Jan 11, 2005 12:19 pm
ProfileThis is the required set-up for profiles and I ask that you either post them in this thread, but preferably pm them to myself. Thank you Profile Gaia Name:Character Name:Age:Race:Alignment:((This can be: Lawful Good, Neutral Good, Chaotic Good, Lawful Neutral, Neutral, Chaotic Neutral, Neutral Evil, Lawful Evil, Chaotic Evil. If you have questions about any of those please look below)) Class:Second Class:((Only if applicable)) ((Put a space here...thanks)) Weapons:((There are modern weapons in this game)) ((Space it)) Appearance:((Another space)) Personality:((Again)) History: Alignments are as such Lawful GoodCrusader: A lawful good character acts a good person is expected or required to act. She combines a commitment to oppose evil with the discipline to fight relentlessly. She tells the truth, keeps her word, helps those in need, and speaks out against injustice. A lawful good character hates to see the guilty go unpunished. Alhandra, a paladin who fights evil without mercy and protects the innocent without hesitation, is lawful good. Lawful good is the best alignment you can be because it combines honor and compassion. Neutral GoodBenefactor: A neutral good character does the best that a good person can do. He is devoted to helping others. He works for kings and magistrates but does not feel beholden to them. Jozan, a cleric who helps others according to their needs, is neutral good. The common phrase for neutral good is 'true good'. Neutral good is the best alignment you can be because it means doing what is good without bias toward or against order. Chaotic GoodRebel: A chaotic good character acts as his conscience directs him with little regard to what others expect of him. He makes his own way, but he?s kind and benevolent. He believes in goodness and right but has little use for laws and regulations. He hates it when people try to intimidate others and tell them what to do. He follows his own moral compass, which, although good, may not agree with that of society. Soveliss, a ranger who waylays the evil baron's tax collectors, is chaotic good. Chaotic good is the best alignment you can be because it combines a good heart with a free spirit. Lawful NeutralJudge: A lawful neutral character acts as law, tradition, or a personal code directs her. Order and organization are paramount to her. She may believe in a personal order and live by a code or standard, or she may believe in order for all and favor a strong, organized government. Ember, a monk who follows her discipline without being swayed by the demands of those in need nor by the temptations of evil, is lawful neutral. The common phrase for lawful neutral is 'true lawful'. Lawful neutral is the best alignment you can be because it means you are reliable and honorable without being a zealot. NeutralUndecided: A neutral character does what seems to be a good idea. She doesn?t feel strongly one way or the other when it comes to good vs. evil or law vs. chaos. Most neutrality is a lack of conviction or bias rather than a commitment to neutrality. Such a character thinks of good as better than evil. After all, she would rather have good neighbors and rulers than evil ones. Still, she?s not personally commited to upholding good in any abstract or universal way. Mialee, a wizard who devotes herself to her art and is bored by the semantics of moral debate, is neutral. Some neutral characters, on the other hand, commit themselves philosophically to neutrality. They see good, evil, law, and chaos as prejudices and dangerous extremes. They advocate the middle way of neutrality as the best, most balanced road in the long run. The common phrase for neutral is 'true neutral'. Neutral is the best alignment you can be because it means you act naturally, without prejudice or compulsion. Chaotic NeutralFree Spirit: A chaotic neutral character follows his whims. He is an individualist first and land. He values his own liberty but doesn?t strive to protect others? freedom. He avoid authority, resents restrictions, and challenges traditions. The chaotic neutral character does not intentionally disrupt organizations as part of a campaign of anarchy. To do so, he could wave to be motivated either by good (and a desire to liberate others) or evil (and a desire to make those different from himself suffer). Devis, a bard who wanders the land living by his wits, is chaotic neutral. The common phrase for chaotic neutral is 'true chaotic'. Remember that a chaotic neutral character may be unpredictable, but his behavior is not totally random. He is not as likely to jump off a bridge as to cross it. Chaotic neutral is the best alignment you can be because it represents true freedom both from societies restrictions and from a do-gooder?s zeal. Lawful EvilDominator: A lawful evil villain methodically takes what he wants within the limits of his code of conduct without regard to whom it hurts. He cares about tradition, loyalty, and order, but not about freedom, dignity, or life. He plays by the rules, but without mercy or compassion. He is comfortable in a hierarchy and would like to rule, but he is willing to serve. He condemns others not according to their actions but according to race, religion, homeland, or social rank. He is loath to break laws or promises. This reluctance is partly because of his nature and partly because he depends on order to protect himself from those who oppose him on moral grounds. Some lawful evil villains have particular taboos, such as not killing in cold blood (but having an underlings do it) or not letting children come to harm (if it can be helped). They imagine that these compunctions put them above unprincipled villains. The scheming baron who expands his power and exploits his people is lawful evil. Some lawful evil people and creatures are committed to evil with a zeal like that of a crusader committed to good. Beyond being willing to hurt others for their own ends, they take pleasure in spreading evil as an end unto itself. They may also see doing evil as part of a duty to an evil deity or master. Lawful evil is sometimes called 'diabolical' because devils are the epitome of lawful evil. Lawful evil is the most dangerous alignment because it represents methodical, intentional and frequently successful evil. Neutral EvilMalefactor: A neutral evil villain does whatever she can get away with. She is out for herself, pure and simple. She sheds no tears fort shoe she kills, whether for profit, sport, or convenience. She has no love of order and holds no illusion that following laws, traditions, or codes would make her any better or more noble. On he other hand, she doesn?t have the restless nature or love of conflict that a chaotic evil villain has. The criminal who robs and murders to get what she wants is neutral evil. Some neutral evil villains hold up evil as an ideal, committing evil for its own sake. Most often, such villains are devoted to evil deities or secret societies. The common phrase for neutral evil is 'true evil'. Neutral evil is the most dangerous alignment because it pure evil without honor and without variation. Chaotic EvilDestroyer: A chaotic evil character does whatever his greed, hatred, and lust for destruction drive him to do. He is hot-tempered, vicious, arbitrarily violent, and unpredictable. If simply out for whatever he can get, he is ruthless and brutal. If he is committed to the spread of evil and chaos, he is even worse. Thankfully, his plans are haphazard, and any groups he joins or forms are poorly organized. Typically, chaotic evil people can only be made to work together by force, and their leader lasts only as long as he can thwart attempts to topple or assassinate him. The demented sorcerer pursuing mad schemes of vengeance and havoc is chaotic evil. Chaotic evil is sometimes called 'demonic' because demons are the epitome of chaotic evil. Chaotic evil is the most dangerous alignment because it represents not only the destruction of beauty and life but of the order on which beauty and life depend. (All credit and ownership rights to Wizards of the Coast, this is an informational resource and no copyright infringement is intended.) That should be it for the Profile.
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Posted: Tue Jan 11, 2005 12:19 pm
Rules
Ok I know I won't have to tell any of you the rules expected, so I'll simply expect them. This is a 'GM' style Rp, in which I'll be playing multiple characters for any and all players. There may be powerful characters you encounter but I'm not trying to kill you in this. If I say your hit does nothing it does nothing. Not to sound like a jackass of course, but if I say that it is for a specific reason. You know the rules of respect, godmods, autoplays, and n00bing. Don't do them please, and keep the rules of this guild in mind as well. ONe more thing, I think we're all respectable and at least on some level adults so language is allowed, minimally as possible, but also romance may happen but no cybering as you know. Alright now that that part is done.
Once again this whole idea came from the Urban Arcana book, All Rights Reserved Wizards of the Coast.
Thanks for coming and I hope you enjoy.
Reason for Rp
Some of the Shadowkind and those who notice the Shadowkind have noticed a large corporation more or less trying to extract the magical properties from such Shadowkind. Over at least 50 Shadowkind are dying and disappearing forever every day. If you received a letter prior to the beginning then it will explain this in general and also tell you to go to a local bar, where you'll meet a Psychic who'll direct you where to go after you say, 'Looks like the Shadows are moving again.' To which he should respond 'They seem to move much more in the daytime.'
If you are Evil or Good and would like to not be included in the main storyline I will play chars for you. NPC's and the like. Just pm me with the details of what you want to do and all then we'll go from there.
Evil and Good are needed alike and are accepted. I will approve baddies and help you determine your charrie and what you can have in them...please join ^-^"""""""""""""" Also Please tell me on top or on the bottom of your application whether you'd like to be a part of the main storyline or make your own with the free form that is allowed. I will be playing the NPC's for anyone who needs it. I'm on most of the time so just PM me ^_^ Thankies
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Posted: Tue Jan 11, 2005 1:16 pm
We place ourselves above the earth. A Shadow of that earth can barely be seen. On it resides magic and other powerful entities. A hand touches the Shadow world and suddenly things start flying from it into the Earth. Magic, items, people, everything. Another flood. Shadowkind regained their powers and many in the Shadow world wondered. We descend down to the Earth. To the mundane and find ourselves in a city. Large and well populated. It is 2010 and the heat of summer has found this place. New York City. The home of bars, peoples, and businesses. We descend seperating now to follow our own people. Searching for each one as they appear in this mundane world. Search them out young ones...find your place in this society. Be wary of the Shadow Hunters though...they shall find you and take you away to a place. A place from which you shall never return...
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Posted: Thu Jan 20, 2005 2:24 pm
Na'fiel blew the whistle.
"All right, everyone out!" she shouted, rushing the last few who were in the pool out. The shrill cries of the whistle echoed throughout the slowly emptying room. Satisfied that everyone had left, she went out the back door into a long corridor where the dressing rooms for the staff were. As her sandles made soft slapping sounds against the white ceramic tiles of the swimming pool, she opened the door to the dressing room and dug out her bag. Unzipping it and while grabbing clean clothes, something fell out.
"Eh? What's this?" she wondered, picking it up from off the floor. An envelope? It was white without anything written on the front. Turning it over, she shrugged and tore it open.
Inside was a plain sheet of paper with a few sentences scrawled on it in black ink. After skimming through it a few times, one sentence stood out.
Go to 'The Shadow Bar' at eight o'clock, tonight. There, you will meet a psychic. Speak to them and say, "Looks like the shadows are moving again." They should reply, "They seem to move much more in the daytime." Once you have done this, you will be directed further.
At first, Na'fiel had considered throwing it out. However...the sentence about the 'shadows'...this was no prank. Grabbing her clothes, she changed quickly. It was 7:30 already, but the bar wasn't too far away. After locking up, she got in her car and headed to 'The Shadow Bar'. The blue haired woman passed it on her way to work almost every morning, but she had never bothered to go in. Well, she will now.
Finding a parking spot and feeding the meter, she entered the room.
The name 'The Shadow Bar' was definately a suitable name. The entire place was dark. The place had few inhabitants at the moment, but one figure stood out. They sat in a booth near the corner and Na'fiel assumed that the person was who she was supposed to talk to. However, she was still suspicious. Who was doing this...and why?
Instead of going straight to the person, she sat in the booth beside and ordered a drink. Keeping on her guard, her eyes scanned the room. She couldn't have been the only one to recieve the message...she would wait. Wait for someone else to go first.
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Posted: Thu Jan 20, 2005 5:57 pm
((Sorry, I accidentally hit submit before putting anything...))
A pale hand clenched the stick shift, foot paused over the gas pedal. Goddammit, stupid red lights, he thought angrily. On a short suburban road, the car almost hit 100mph, not even with any coaxing from the speed demon. Just thinking about it made him excited. "Sweet ride," Kort murmured, the hand over the wheel rubbing gently. "Very sweet ride." The cherry red Dodge Viper shone in the middle of the quiet neighborhood. Bright and loud, it roared to life the minute the light turned green. As if with a mind of its own, the vehicle rumbled and screeched off, leaving black tire marks in the street.
Images blurred past his windows, colorful and streaked. Glancing to the side, Z'Kort grinned. "Like an impressionist painting..." he whispered, turning all his charm to no one. "...on acid." The man added with a cackle.
A skillful hand turned to second gear, third gear, and fourth gear in less than 10 seconds. Feet added pressure to the clutch at each change, then let go, adding more to gas between. Moments later, confident at the abilities of the car, he switched to fifth gear, pressing his foot all the way down on the pedal.
In the 25 mile per hour areas, he was well on his way to passing 110. The lights were on his side, letting him fly. But either way, on the quickly accelerating automobile, he wouldn't have been able to stop. At least, not stop and have the car come out alive.
Flipping his hair like a Charlie's Angel, raven black hair swooshing past his face as he concentrated on the road. Every bit the vain paramour, Kort took a moment to glance in the mirror. Wicked green eyes met wicked green eyes in it and he smiled, revealing his pearly whites. "I'm such a devil," the elf said to himself in the mirror. "Such a HANDSOME devil."
A quick look sent to his empty passenger seat brought to mind the letter he had found. The woman he lived with had given it to him saying, "It was taped on the door, Kort, isn't that neat?" Suspicious, the man snatched it away smiling and flirting. Without a question, she had given it to him, blushing and puttering about it. So simple, the humans were.
Z'Kort read the letter and was filled with curiosity. Deciding to follow its instruction, he was headed off and here he was now. The directions he had gotten to the bar told him to turn, so he did. Immediately, the elf began to let down on the gas, switching quickly from 5th all the way down to only 2nd. Parking with a last screech, he stepped out, eager to get on with whatever came next.
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Posted: Thu Jan 20, 2005 9:18 pm
Waking just as six o'clock came about, the lush woman gave a wide yawn as she untangled herself from the mutlitude of bed-sheets. Still far too warm for her liking this was only her second summer and she still disliked it. Though business boomed in the summer since all the richies and baddies were out.
Sitting up in her massive queen-sized bed she rubbed the sleep out of her blue flecked, black eyes. Looking at the full length mirror on the wall to the left of her bed, Zaniah gae a pearly grin, ruffling her boyishly short white hair. Pointed ears with a thick silver hoop in each were places slightly higher than a humans, and her chocolate brown skin made a sharp contrast to her hair.
Leaping out of bed she took a quick shower and began to change, choosing for her night off to wear her favorite black baggy jeans and a Crimson red muscle shirt, who's hem covered her hips. Giving her hair one more quick ruffle to dry it further, she considered adding some color to it again like the youth of this place. It seemed that unnatural colors was a very normal thing for the children of this age and world, the blue in her hair had long since faded, and she had seriously considered dying it back sometime.
"Ah, maybe sometime.. When i'm not too busy.." Zani spoke to her reflection with a grin. The drow was in a fairly giddy mood this evening, but when she looked towards the front door and noticed a crisp looking envelope on the floor, as if someone had shoved it under the door, her curiousity was perked and she was immediately intruiged by it's contents..
Looking in a mirror one more time she adjusted the dramatic make-up on her face that did nothing to hide the crimson tattoo's on her skin. Slipping on a few bracelettes she pulled on her black combat boots and Street bike helmet. It was pitch black with blue and violet flames on the sides.
The underground parking was quickly filling with people coming home from work. And she spotted her beauty before sticking her helet over her head and flipping the keys in her hand before walking over to it and revving it to life. It was a sleek black bike with flames to match her helmet her pride and joy.
Soon she was speeding down the crowded New York roads, weaving in and out of traffic and laughing as people cursed at her from their cars. It was half and hour later that she was at the bar that didn't look all that busy. A neon sign outside shone with black lights saying 'The Shadow Bar'
Parking her bike just out front she entered the place, removing her helmet to toss just behind the bar for later retrieval. Seeing a few people already sitting she noticed a dark figure sitting in a booth quietly, eyes on her as she entered. Deciding to get this over with about who knew what she was.. she walked right up to him, ears and markings plain as day and said in her accented voice..
"Looks like the shadows are moving again.." Slender hands on her toned waist she looked directly at the person, face a mask of calm, this was entirely business now..
((Woa... I feel drained 3nodding stressed ))
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Posted: Fri Jan 21, 2005 4:58 am
His fists thumped against something that, at the moment, he could not identify. All he was seeing was red, blood red. He continued to punch, rapidly, strongly, each sound of contact giving him a sort of satisfaction. He continued until he heard the mail slot open in his apartment door, and heard something slide through. He halted the punching bag.
His hooves brushing against the carpet as he walked, Arkus had to posistion himself carefully to avoid puncturing his door, as he had done many times before he had gotten used to this. "Probably another tournament notice..." He chuckled. "Good, I could use the money."
He picked up the letter and rather brutishly opened it, and was not exactly surprised when it was not a tournament notice at all.
"What's this? I think it's ... what's that stuff... oh yeah. Junk mail?" He said, talking to himself. He continued to read, for some reason, as if his attention was snagged and could not be diverted.
"Hmm... Shadows? Strange. I need to check this out..." The only downside about being a minotaur is that next to no truck could hold you, and motorcycles would be seriously impeded by your weight. Bicycles would collapse beneath you, and that left one option: walking, which he did quite often to stay in shape.
"Hmm... The Shadow Bar? Think I've seen that before..." He considered the danger he was putting himself in, risking being discovered. But then again, who had not heard of Minos, the Bull-Man Wrestler, or Arkus, the Champion Boxer? His record was undefeated, and he turned down professionals many times to keep himself undiscovered by anyone who would wish him ill...
Opening the door and squeezing through, Arkus walked down the hall and out into the streets, finding himself in the place he called home: the slums of this town. He loved this place. All sorts of scum that did not know better than challenge his honor. He had read a book, briefly, that had a phrase that he borrowed. "My honor is my life." He said with a bull-like snort, and a sort of grin.
Of course, this bull-man did not walk about in his native clothing. Far from it.
The legs of his black pants swished against one another as he walked down the street, and he adjusted his rather tight black tanktop, as it began to agitate his shoulder somewhat, even though it seemed plastered across his chest, outlining every large muscle of his chest.
It had been a few years since Arkus had been thrown from his native land by some unknown force, and since, while accumulating enough money, Arkus had been attempting to figure out what exactly it was. But something was happening at the Shadow Bar, and Arkus would check that out.
Finding the bar rather easily, Arkus ducked slightly and walked in. Some people looked up in awe, others whispered his wrestling and boxing aliases to each other, but nobody dared ask him for an autograph. He was too large, intimidating. He looked around, attempting to identify the one that he was supposed to talk to... Of course it would be the shadowed man sitting in the booth across from... a drow? Arkus nearly panicked. Of course, though, it made sense.
He was not alone, now, in this world. But he tried to remember, as he had forgotten awhile ago, if minotaurkind had any mortal, racial enemies.
He hoped it would not be this folk. Of course, he noticed another woman who seemed... strange. She had oddly colored hair, which was not unlike some humans, but she just had an air about her that was other-worldly.
Arkus would proceed with caution, and he found himself hunched over atop a barstool with a large beer in hand.
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RogueKazimeras Vice Captain
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Posted: Fri Jan 21, 2005 9:06 am
The man at the darkened table stared up at the woman with a questioning face. He wore a leather jacket and had a beer in front of him. "What the hell are you talking about lady?" He laughed and shook his head slowly looking back to his friend he had been previously speaking with.
A bartender leaned on the bar and smiled at Arkus. "Hello sir, how are you tonight?" He had his arms folded on the bartop. His eyes were odd, not a normal color. They were hard to see under the dark brown bangs of his hair. His eyes had no pupil, nor color. Something different could be felt from him, not like the dark or stranger feeling from the others in the room. His was simply...chilly.
He watched those entering pointing out those in his mind he knew were who he was told to look for. He could see those Shadowkind easily and knew who they were. He wondered how long it would take them to find him. He set his foot upon the bar near his feet in wait. His body skinny but fit at least. He wasn't handsome or special looking, and in fact looked like a nerd or a teenager.
Other members in the bar were talking at a low mummer, it seemed like a slow night, but at least they had business. There was a hallway off to the right leading to the bathrooms. It ended at a mirror oddly enough and nothing else besides the bathrooms.
((Shortness yes but I posted all that other stuff))
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Posted: Fri Jan 21, 2005 10:27 am
Na'fiel heard the response given to the drow who had just entered. Well, apparently, she had been right in not asking immediately. Leaving her seat, she went over to the bar where a large, hooved man sat. He was obviously not human. Over the years as the Mermaid stayed in this city, she noticed others who seemed out of place. The strange mechanic near her home who had scales instead of skin and a forked tongue. The man who often walked the streets with sharper than normal canines. However, the normal humans didn't seem to notice. The mechanic had a skin disease. The cloaked man had a dental problem.
She waved to summon the bartender. It had been awhile since she had a good drink and she could spare the money. Beer would be nice. Something strong.
Three others had entered since she had sat down. Neither of them seemed to be quite human. The man who she was currently next to, who dwarfed her in size, was definately not. The horns, the hooves...a bovine demon? She chuckled inwardly at the thought.
The one who had spoken to the man in the corner...drow, perhaps? She definately had the qualities of a drow, with her dark skin and light hair. However, not everthing was what it seemed. Especially now.
The third seemed...human enough and yet not so. Something was a little different about him, although she couldn't place it.
No matter, if this was just a prank, someone was going to have more than a few bruises before this night was over. The mermaid would make sure of that.
((Sorry about the cow joke ^^'' Yesh, it is short. Not much to say...))
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Posted: Fri Jan 21, 2005 12:18 pm
((It's long enough hehe blaugh ))
The bartender walks over cleaning the bartop with a few swipes. "Hello Ma'am! Name's Dameon, and I'll be the bartender tonight, anything I can get for you?" He smiles slightly, his hair not moving from his eyes. It was as if...something held that hair there forcefully. A spell was the most likely thought process...
Dameon watched her through the hair as if it wasn't a hinderance. He stood there a bit straighter now. He didn't think the letters had told them who to look for...maybe part of the test to see if they could discover the owner of the information they needed. If they didn't their anger would simply be let out upon themselves and they would leave. No problems he could only hope.
The skinny man's hair swayed with his head movements but never left his eyes, as if a barrier or something to protect them. His arms covered with a loose shirt used to keep his body hidden. On his body he bore the marks that would never leave. Those that marked him as a psychic. They were of many infamous organizations who took those with 'supernatural' powers under their wing in order to teach them the ways of using them.
Another on his body was one he had recently left. Those who used those powers to destroy and obliterate everything. Granted the recruits didn't know this till they got into the high levels. By that time most have been 'brainwashed' in a way in order to make them easier to do the makers' will.
All things considered about his unknown past he was a very kind and honest guy. He didn't dive into people's minds at every moment he could. He was powerful, but kind-hearted with a intelligence to match. Not a man that could be messed with knowing what he was, but unknowing people did so often...soon learning he wasn't as he seemed.
It would take a bit of knowledge of seeing Shadowkind, or those kind of abilities to notice what he was. To notice that he had mind waves floating from his mind free for all to notice...those who knew they were looking for a psychic may just realize there is something in the air...something odd messing with their mind originating from somewhere near the bar. Those nearer him may be able to tell even better where it is coming from...then again they would have to know what they're looking for...
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